CHAPTER II

YOLANDA D’ARRAGONA--I.

A Queen in labour--Natural children--Princess Juanita--“La Gaya Ciencia”--Troubadours--Iolande de Flandres--Bar-le-Duc--Highwaymen--Recruits--Fêtes galants--Court of Love--Juan I., King of Aragon--A beauteous damsel--L’Académie des Jeux Floraux--A royal Mainteneuse--Nails in their heads!--“Plucking the turkey”!--“Quite as good as you!”--“A gay woman”--A royal baptism--Princess Yolanda--The Salic Law--A bridegroom-elect--Mauled by a wolf--A silver throne--“The Queen!”--Bullfights--A royal trousseau--A brilliant cavalcade--Louis II. d’Anjou--Attractive girls--Castle of Montpellier--A royal progress--“The Loves of Louis and Yolanda”--A King-suitor in disguise--An ardent kiss--A royal marriage--Beautiful Arlésiennes--“A lovely creature!”--A splendid dowry--Gardens at Tarascon--Legend of St. Martha--A deadly dragon--State entry into Angers--The castle and its contents--“Mysteries”--Inartistic fare--Feastings--Yolanda Lieutenant-General of Anjou--English invasion--Rabbit with a medallion--Isabeau de Bavière--A wasp-like waist--Jewels--Catherine de Valois--Yolanda’s first-born--The “Black Death”--Queen-Duchess Marie--Princess Marie--Taxes and tax-gatherers--René d’Anjou born--St. Renatus--The Queen’s enterprise--Cutting off his tail!--Claimants for a throne--A piteous little Prince--A royal betrothal--Henry V. of England--Louis II. in Italy--His death 30-66